Head and body protector



March 12, 1957 2,784,409

B. SLIPAK OFF AND BODY PROTECTOR Filed Feb. '7, 1955 //7 V e n for- I EEK/W920 5029/; on:

5/ A. fiyui f I United States Patent HEAD AND BODY PROTECTOR Bernard Slipakolf, New Orleans, La. Application February 7, 1955, Serial No. 486,465 1 Claim. (Cl. 2-4) The present invention relates to a head protector adapted to prevent insects from attacking the head and shoulders of the wearer and which can be worn with great comfort and without impairing to any substantial extent the wearers freedom of movement.

The invention particularly relates to a netting which can be simply and quickly slipped on and off the wearer, in the manner of a sweater, which provides an eifective seal against the entry of insects into the space between the netting and the wearer, and which despite the simplicity of its use and the elfectiveness of the protection obtained, will not hamper the ability of the wearer to move freely. Further, the effectiveness of protection is not reduced upon vigorous movement of the wearer, as for example, the netting will cling tightly to the body to maintain a protective seal between the body and the netting when a hunter raises his rifle or a fisherman casts his line, which actions are illustrative of the vigorous motions contemplated.

The invention specifically provides a netting having a body encircling elastic band at its lowermost portion for engaging the waist or chest of the wearer, arm encircling elastic bands for encircling the upper portion of the arms of the wearer and is preferably composed of a semi-stiff netting so that contact between the head of the wearer and the netting which surrounds the head is substantially reduced.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a head protector constructed in accordance with the invention showing the same in position about a person wearing the same;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the head protector of the invention positioned about a person wearing the same; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a head protector constructed in accordance with the invention and showing the manner in which the strips of netting are sewen together and the securing elastic bands are positioned.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral generically indicates a head protector, which in accordance with the invention, is preferably constructed of two U-shaped strips of netting 11 land 12 which constitute a front and a back panel respectively. The front and back panels 11 and 12 are sewn together over the greater portion of their margins in spaced sections 13, 14 and 15 leaving arm encircling openings 16 and 17 and a waist or chest encircling opening 18.

Elastic bands 19, 20 and 21 are secured to the margins of the netting surrounding the openings 16, 17 and 18 2 respectively and function to draw the netting against the arms and body of the wearer as can be seen in Figs. 1 and 2. Preferably, the margins of the netting are folded back and the elastic bands 19, 20 and 21 are positioned within the folds and secured in place by stitching.

It is preferred to employ a closely woven nylon netting since such netting possesses a desirable stiffness which serves to reduce the tendency of the netting to cling to the head and inhibit freedom of movement thereof. The stiffness desired is that sufficient to maintain the netting of the head protector in a generally vertical position with only a gentle sliding contact between the netting and the head of the wearer.

It will be appreciated that he invention provides effective protection against insects without causing discomfort to the wearer or hampering the free movement of the body and particularly the head, arms and torso. It will also be evident that the use waist or chest and arms enables vigorous motion of the wearer without permitting spaces to be formed between the body and the netting for ingress of insects. It will, moreover, be seen that the head protector of the invention can be worn comfortably to permit vigorous activity to be maintained for along period of time without it being necessary to remove the head protector. Naturally, the fact that the head protector of the invention does not contain rigid elements enables the same to be readily folded into a small space to permit convenient carrying thereof.

I claim:

As a new article of manufacture, a head and body protector for preventing insects and the like from attacking the head and shoulders and adjacent portions of the body of the wearer, said protector adapted to be worn with comfort and without impairing to any substantial extent the wearers freedom of movement, said protector embodying a pair of superposed sections of netting of similar shape and construction, each of said sections embodying an upper portion of substantially elliptical shape and each section further including a lower tapered integral extension, the peripheral meeting edges of said sections being secured together in three spaced apart areas to define arm and body receiving openings, elastic brands secured to the marginal portions of said sections surrounding said openings for drawing the netting against the arms and body of the wearer, the margins of the netting being folded back and the elastic bands being positioned within the fold and secured in place by stitching, said netting being made of relatively stiff material whereby the netting possesses a desirable stiffness which serves to reduce the tendency of the netting to cling to the head and inhibit freedom of movement thereof, the stiffness being sufficient to maintain the netting in a generally vertical position.

UNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited in the file of this patent 336,712 Garst Feb. 23, 1886 1,203,155 Strout Oct. 31, 1916 1,477,218 Guinzburg Dec. 11, 1923 2,367,006 Cope Jan. 9, 1945 2,445,487 Lester et a1. July 20, 1948 2,649,584 Ohappell Aug. 25, 1953 of elastic securing means about the 

